TY - JOUR
T1 - Lignin biogeochemistry
T2 - From modern processes to Quaternary archives
AU - Jex, Catherine N.
AU - Pate, Gary H.
AU - Blyth, Alison J.
AU - Spencer, Robert G.M.
AU - Hernes, Peter J.
AU - Khan, Stuart J.
AU - Baker, Andy
N1 - Funding Information:
The study was funded by an Australian Research Council grant, Discovery Project: DP110102124, and Australia's National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training .
PY - 2014/3/1
Y1 - 2014/3/1
N2 - Lignin has been analysed as a proxy for vegetation change in the Quaternary science literature since the early 1990s in archives such as peat, lakes, and intertidal and marine sediment cores. Historically, it has been regarded as comparatively resistant to various types of degradation in comparison to other plant components. However, studies of modern biogeochemical processes affecting organic carbon have demonstrated significant degradation and alteration of lignin as it is transported through the terrestrial biosphere, including phase changes from particulate to dissolved organic matter, mineral binding and decay due to biotic and abiotic processes. The literature of such topics is vast, however it is not particularly useful to Quaternary research without a comprehensive review to link our understanding of modern processes involving lignin to Quaternary environments. This review will outline the current state of the art in lignin phenol research that is relevant to the Quaternary scientist, and highlight the potential future applications for this important biomarker for vegetation change and terrestrial organic carbon cycling.
AB - Lignin has been analysed as a proxy for vegetation change in the Quaternary science literature since the early 1990s in archives such as peat, lakes, and intertidal and marine sediment cores. Historically, it has been regarded as comparatively resistant to various types of degradation in comparison to other plant components. However, studies of modern biogeochemical processes affecting organic carbon have demonstrated significant degradation and alteration of lignin as it is transported through the terrestrial biosphere, including phase changes from particulate to dissolved organic matter, mineral binding and decay due to biotic and abiotic processes. The literature of such topics is vast, however it is not particularly useful to Quaternary research without a comprehensive review to link our understanding of modern processes involving lignin to Quaternary environments. This review will outline the current state of the art in lignin phenol research that is relevant to the Quaternary scientist, and highlight the potential future applications for this important biomarker for vegetation change and terrestrial organic carbon cycling.
KW - Lignin
KW - Marine archives
KW - Organic geochemistry
KW - Paleovegetation
KW - Quaternary
KW - Terrestrial archives
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893091907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.12.028
DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.12.028
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84893091907
SN - 0277-3791
VL - 87
SP - 46
EP - 59
JO - Quaternary Science Reviews
JF - Quaternary Science Reviews
ER -